Humans have changed ecosystems more rapidly and extensively than in any comparable period of time in human history, largely to meet rapidly growing demands for food, fresh water, timber, fiber and fuel. This has resulted in a substantial and largely irreversible loss in the diversity of life on Earth.

Other works and interests
In 2003 Larson drew a cover for the November 17 edition of The New Yorker magazine an offer he felt was too prestigious to refuse. This occurred a week before The Seattle Times dropped Nature’s Way. " Often the behavior of supposedly superior humans was compared with animals: surrounded by fences and dense housing a father explains to his son that a bird song is a territorial marking common to the lower animals.

He is the creator of The Far Side a single-panel cartoon series that was syndicated internationally to over 900 newspapers for 15 years. The series ended with Larson's retirement on January 1 1995. Gary Larson (born August 14 1950) is an American cartoonist.